Retirement Curtain: Jordi Alba Ends a Storied Football Odyssey
7 October 2025
A Storied Career Comes to a Close
Jordi Alba, the Spanish left-back who has played for Inter Miami and Barcelona, announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional football, effective at the end of this MLS season.
At 36, after a long career filled with trophies, he has decided to hang up his boots.
Alba shared the news in a video posted on his Instagram account in which he confirms his retirement from the game.
The Message in His Own Words
In his statement he describes this moment as a pivotal chapter coming to a close and confirms his decision to finish his professional career at the end of the MLS season.
He says he is moving forward with conviction, satisfaction and happiness after pursuing his path with passion, and that it is the right moment to start a new chapter with positive memories.
He thanks teammates, coaches, staff, and rivals who pushed him to give his best, and he highlights the clubs that shaped his life, from the early days at Atlético Centro Hospitalense to Cornellà, Nàstic de Tarragona, Valencia, and Barcelona, then Inter Miami.
He notes that the journey also included a stint with the Spanish national team, and he expresses gratitude for the chance to live his dream. Finally, he thanks Inter Miami for welcoming him and for letting him enjoy the journey to the end.
He closes with a message of gratitude to supporters, family and friends, emphasizing that the shirt is more than fabric — it is a feeling and a memory that stays with him.
Today he reflects on a career built on hard work and joy, stating that football has been and remains a central part of his life. He thanks the sport for everything it gave him.
Legacy and What’s Next
Alba’s career totals include around 700 matches, 51 goals and 135 assists, along with many trophies, mostly with Barcelona, and two MLS titles with Inter Miami.
He won six La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups, five Copa del Rey trophies, plus a European Cup and a Club World Cup with Barça, and he added a supporters’ shield and league titles with Inter Miami.
Internationally, he won Euro 2012 and the UEFA Nations League in 2023. Inter Miami extended his contract to 2027 in May.
Busquets, Alba’s long-time teammate, had retired earlier and Mascherano suggested that Busquets could become a coach after retirement.
Mascherano told Sport that Busquets had indicated a future coaching plan, and that Alba’s departure marks the end of an era while the Spaniard could still contribute on the sidelines in the years to come.
Alba and Busquets joined Inter Miami after leaving Barça; Messi and Suárez had preceded them at Barça.
Punchline 1: If this retirement were a target, Alba would have scored with a perfect bullseye—time to let the younger players shoot for the stars.
Punchline 2: His boots are filing a complaint for too much mileage, but the case is closed: retirement wins this round with style.
